Variable camber cleaner

ABSTRACT

Two brushes are mounted on the cleaner for rotation on axes and have cleaning faces substantially normal to the axes and substantially lying in the same plane. The brushes are counter rotatively driven, and the cleaning faces of the brushes are the only substantial contact between the cleaner and the surface being cleaned. The axes are tiltable with respect to each other so that different portions of the brush face periphery are in greater contact with the surface being cleaned so that the cleaner is urged along the surface, in accordance with the relative tilt of the axes.

United States Patent [191 Jacobs [111 3,781,937 [451 Jan. 1, 1974 1 1 VARIABLE CAMBER CLEANER [76] Inventor: Harold J. Jacobs, 1047 First St., San

Pedro, Calif. 90731 [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 152,638

546,123 6/1942 Great Britain 15/87 Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts AttorneyAllen A. Dickey, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Two brushes are mounted on the cleaner for rotation on axes and have cleaning faces substantially normal to the axes and substantially lying in the same plane. The brushes are counter rotatively driven, and the cleaning faces of the brushes are the only substantial 7 contact between the cleaner and the surface being cleaned. The axes are tiltable with respect to each other so that different portions of the brush face periphery are in greater contact with the surface being cleaned so that the cleaner is urged along the surface,

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,138 8/1932 Pond et a1. 15/49 R 2,148,775 2/1939 Pond 15/49 R 3,011,191 12/1961 Hulsh 15/49R I 5/87 in accordance with the relatlve tilt of the axes. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,133,028 12/1956 France 15/49 R t ,1 r r 1 l] I a, j i' or. //Z r 32 l /A' In! /4 1 VARIABLE CAMBER CLEANER BACKGROUND This invention is directed to a cleaner for cleaning surfaces, and particularly a cleaner which has no substantial contact with the surface to be cleaned other than the cleaning brushes thereof. Since the days of the caveman, when he threw bones out of the cave after a feast (or they were carried out by the dogs), there has. been a cleaning effort. Without outlining the various stages of development through straw brooms, etc., it is noted that, with mechanization of other areas of endeavor, mechanization has also improved the art of cleaning and the structure of cleaning mechanisms. For example, street cleaners commonly have roadwheels for the support and propulsion of the street cleaner and have various brushes depending therefrom selectively engageable with the street surface for the sweeping thereof. Some of these brushes may be tiltable in various directions, particularly for cleaning the gutter zone and bringing the dirt from the gutter'out to where the main brushes can pick up this dirt. Some of these prior art gutter brushes were designed so that they have tiltable axes of rotation so that different portions of the face of those gutter brushes were in contact for enhanced cleaning effectiveness.

SUMMARY In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a cleaning device which has first and second brushes rotating respectively on first and second axes, each of the brushes having a cleaning face substantially normal to its axis, the cleaning faces of the brushes being the only substantial contact with the surface to be cleaned. The brushes are driven in opposite directions for elimination of the torque, and the axes are selectively tiltable with respect to each other to provide the motivating force for the cleaner along the surface.

Accordingly, the objects of my invention are: first, to provide an improved variable camber cleaner; second, to provide an improved variable camber cleaner which moves in any desired direction in a self-propelled manner; third, to provide a device in which the selfpropelling movements are easily controllable by means of the rotary movement of brushes controllable in a manner which will cause the device to move in a desired direction without the expenditure of an operator's application of force, resulting from the suitable tilting of one or more of the brushes by means of a manual control interconnected with the shafts on which such brushes are mounted, resulting in a movement of the device in the direction in which the control mechanism is moved. I attain these objects by way of the means and constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la and lb are representations of the basic principle of the invention, showing interconnected brushes in various phases of contact with the surface when they operate;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of my invention partially broken away and in sections;

FIG. 3 is a view in the perspective of my device;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of my device;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan cross-sectional view of the motion conversion mechanism of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan fragmentary cross-sectionalview of the movementlimiting restriction of my invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlargement of the control linkage shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. la, the device illustrates a heavyduty variable camber cleaner, [0, having a pair. of counterrotating brushes, 11 and 12, that are spaced apart in any flexible manner. The term "counterrotating" is used to mean that the brushes, 11 and 12, rotate in opposite directions, as indicated in FIG. 2, to minimize twisting of the machine or torque of cleaner 10 with respect to the surface against which it operates. For convenience of explanation, it will be assumed that when viewed from above, the left-brush, 11, is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction; and that the right-brush, 12, is rotating in a clockwise direction. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the near rim-portions (i.e., near to the observer) of the left-brush, 11, and the rightbrush, 12 are rotating in the directions indicated by directional-arrows, l4 and 15, respectively.

In accordance with my inventive concept, the brushshafts, l6 and 17, of brushes, 11 and 12, are tiltable; and as a result, when the tops of brush-shafts, l6 and 17, are tilted toward each other as indicated in FIG. 1a, this produces the following effect. Both brushes, l0 and 11, now tend to ride" on their peripheral-bristles that are adjacent to each other, whereas the rest of the bristles tend to be lifted slightly off the surface against which they operate, i.e. floor, 18.

It can be determined from the discussion of the directional-arrows, 14 and 15, that the adjacent peripheralbristles of both brushes are all rotating away from the observer i.e., into the plane of the paper. Since the surface-touching bristles are moving away from the observer, the variable camber cleaner, 10, tends to move in the opposite directionout this the plane of the paper, and toward the observer--thls direction of machine-movement being indicated by the dot/circle" symbol, 20, which is to be construed as representing the point of an arrow flying toward the observer.

To recapitulate this portion of the disclosure, when the outer ends of the brush-shafts are tilted toward each other, the variable camber cleaner tends to move backward, in the direction the observer would move if he backed up.

Attention is invited to FIG. lb where similar elements have the same reference-characters as in the previous illustration. In FIG. lb, the brush-shafts, l6 and 17, are shown as being tilted away from each other; and this tilting has the effect of causing brushes, l1 and 12, to now ride on their peripheral-bristles that are remote from each other. Again, from a consideration of the directional-arrows, l4 and 15, it will be realized'that these remote peripheral-bristles are all rotating toward the observer, out of the plane of the paper. Since the floor-touching bristles are moving toward the observer, the variable camber cleaner, 10, tends to move in the opposite direction into the plane of the paper, and away from the observer. This direction of variable camber cleaner movement is indicated by the plus symbol, 21, which represents the tail-feathers of an arrow flying away from the observer.

To recapitulate, when the outer ends of the brushshafts are tilted away from each other, the variable camber cleaner tends to move forwardthat is, tends to move in the same direction in which the observer is looking.

An analysis similar to those presented above will brushes for the desired movement. This machine-- movement control does not require any great effort on the part of the operator. Moreover, if the machine should walk off in a given direction due to an unexpected roughness of the floor or for some other reason, this incipient walking-tendency can be easily overcome by merely tilting the brush-shafts in a directionthat negates the walking-movement.

While the above explanation has been presented in terms of obtaining machine-movement by tilting both brush-shafts, it will be apparent that a similar machinemovement can be obtained by tilting only one of the brush-shafts, because such causes relative tilting.

As indicated previously, FIG. 2 shows a top view of the counter-rotating brushes, l1 and 12. While these brushes have been illustrated ashaving tufts of bristles, theymay alternatively have continuously-placed bristles, if so desired.'Also, it will be noted that in FIG. 2, the brushes'are indicated to be of the intermeshed type for more efficient operation.

Attention is now directedto FIG. 3, which shows a perspective view of the variable camber cleaner, 10. As indicated, a frame, 25, carries-a motor, 26, that may be hydraulic, vacuum, electric, or of any other suitable type. Motor, 26, acting through a gear-train that will be discussed later, rotates brushes, 11 and 12, in thecounter-rotating manner discussed above.

' It will be noted that frame, 25, is of sturdy construction; and that brush-shafts, l6 and 17, protrude through frame, 25, being mounted in suitable bearings (not shown). However, portion,'l3, of frame, 25, is in-' tentionally thinned as indicated so that the brushshafts, l6 and 17, may be tilted relative to each other (as discussed above in connection with FIG. 1). It will be realized that when the brush-shafts, l6 and 17, are tilted toward or away from each otheri.e., in the iongitudinal direction of FIG. 3- the thinned frameportion, 13, will curve either downwardly or upwardly to permit this longitudinal tilting of the brushshafts, l6 and 17; and when the brush-shafts, 16' and 17, are tilted in opposite front-to-back directioni.e., in thetransverse direction of FIG. 3- the thinned frame-portion,

13,-wil l twist, rack or skew to permit this transverse tilting of the brush-shafts. However, in either case, the thinned frame-portion, 13, is strong enough to withstand the desired strain without excessive stress.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 4, showing a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the variable camber cleaner, 10. Motor, 26, is indicated to rotate a drivinggear, 30, that has two functions. The first of these functions is to rotate a driven-gear, 31, affixed to the left brush-shaft, l6; and rotating the left-brush, 11. The second function of driving-gear, 30, is to rotate a driving-sprocket, 32, which acts through a sprocket-chain, 33, to rotate a driven-sprocket, 34, affixed to the right brush-shaft, l7, and rotating the right-brush, 12, in a counter-clockwise manner. The bending and twisting of the thinned frame portion 13 is insufficient to adversely efi'ect operation of chain 33.

Asdiseussed above, machine-movement is to be produced by tilting one of the brush-shafts; and for simplicity of disclosure, the following explanation will be directed to the tilting of the right brush-shaft, l7 relative to the left brush shaft 16.

A simple tilt-control is to extend the brush-shaft, l7, far enough out of the machine, 10, so that a nonrotating knob at its end becomesthe tilt-control. This simple arrangement is completely operative as discussed above, but has the disadvantage that the resultant direction of machine movement does not correspond with the direction of movement of the controlhandleso that a learning process is necessary in order for the operator to properly control the movement of the variable camber cleaner, 10.

This problem will be better understood by referring to FIG. 1a. It will be recalled that in accordance with FIG. latilting brush-shaft, 17, to the left causes the variable camber cleaner, 10, to move backward (see No. 21); and that in accordance with FIG. lb-- tilting brush-shaft, 17, to the right causes the variable camber cleaner 10, to move forward (see No. 20). Thus, where the control-handle is the brush-shaft, 17, the direction of movement of the machine, 10, is not the same as the direction of movement of the controlhandle.

The above problem may be readily solved by the use of a suitable control-handle and a suitable direction conversion mechanism.

In FIG. 4, a control-handle, 27,'is mounted in such a way that when its ball-end, 28, is moved longitudinally to the right, its opposite end, pin 29, is moved longitudinally to the left, pin 29 being engaged, in a manner to be discussed later, to a slide, 37, which slides along the top-surface, 38, of frame, 25. Thus, any longitudinal movement of the handle-ball, 28, produces an oppositely-directed longitudinal movement of slide, 37.

FIG. 5 shows slide 37 to be adapted to slide along the top-surface, 38, of frame 25, the pin, 29, (not shown) of the control-handle fitting into a slot, 42, of slide, 37.

While the above explanation suggested that slide 37 will move in a longitudinal direction, a pair of angledguides, 43a and 43b, prevent pure longitudinal motion of the slide, 37, and causes it to slide in a diagonal direction as indicated by the double-ended arrow, 44, thus causing slide, 37, to develop a transverse component of motion indicated by the double-ended arrow,

rectioneither forward or backward, depending upon the direction of movement of the control-handle, 27.

Because of the direction-conversion action of slide, 37, rightward movement of the control-handle, 27, causes the variable camber cleaner, 10, to move to the rightas discussed above. Similarly, because of the direction-conversion action of the slide, 37, leftward movement of the control-handle, 27, causes the variable camber cleaner, 10, to move to the left. The direction of movement of the variable camber cleaner, 10, corresponds therefore to the direction of movement of the control-handle, 27.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left brush-shaft, 16, is mounted in the heavy portion of frame, 25, so that it is generally unaffected by the tilting of the right brush-shaft, 17, the thinned frame-portion, 13, acting to decouple the two shafts from each other.

In summary, longitudinal movement of the controlhandle, 27, is convertible to transverse tilting of the right brush-shaft, l7, and this transverse tilting produces the desired longitudinal movement of the variable camber cleaner, 10, in the direction of controlhandle movement.

The variable camber cleaner is adapted to move in a transverse direction by pressure exerted transversely against the control-handle.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the adjustable-length control linkage, 47.

This comprises a double-handed threaded rod, 54, to

which control-handle, 27, is attached by pivot pin 53;

rod, 54, being threaded into end-couplings, 55 and 56. CouplingSS is, in turn, pivoted to a rectangular collar, 57, that encloses the brush-shaft, 17. In this way, the length of linkage, 47, may be adjusted.

The preceding explanation has been presented in terms of a strictly longitudinal/transverse machinemovement; but of course this is not always desired. However, such movement may be further insured by use ofa bushing, bearing, journal, or the like (see FIG. 4), 50, positioned in the upper portion of frame 25, to surround the right brush-shaft, 17, as it passes through the upper portion of the frame. Bearing 50 (see FIG. 6) may have a square outline which slides either transversely or longitudinally, as indicated by the arrows, in a plus-shaped opening, 52. In this way, the brush-shaft, 17, is limited to longitudinal and transverse tilting.

The disclosed invention has many advantages over prior-art variable camber cleaner. Since the size of a single variable camber cleaner is determined by the strength of the operatorwho has to restrain the twisting torque of the single-brush machine, and since the two counter-rotating brushes cancel each others torque, the two counter-rotating brushes permit an operator to use a larger machine for treatment of a larger area; second, the intermeshed gear-shaped brushes treat the surface without leaving untreated areas, as would be the case if two circular brushes were used; third, the machine may easily be moved in any desired direction; fourth, the machine-movement is accomplished by the energy of the rotating brushes, rather than by the strength of the operator; fifth,'the present invention permits the operator to stabilize the operation of the variable camber cleaner by negating its tendency to walk off in an undesired direction; sixth, the direction of machine-movement may be made to correspond to the direction of movement of the controlhundle; and seventh, the present invention permits the operator to do a better job in a shorter time, with less operator-strain.

While a specific form of my invention has been described, it is understood that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A cleaner comprising:

a frame having first and second ends;

a first brush shaft rotatably mounted on said frame toward said first end of said frame to rotate on a first axis, a first brush secured to said first brush shaft and having a brush face substantially normal to said axis;

a second brush shaft rotatably mounted on said frame toward said second end of said frame to rotate on a second axis, a second brush attached to said second brush shaft and having a brush face substantially normal to said axis of rotation of said second brush shaft; I

said brush faces forming the only contact between said cleaner and a surface to be cleaned by said cleaner;

means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes in opposite directions for minimizing torque between said frame and the surface to be cleaned as said means for rotating said brushes rotates said brushes against the surface being cleaned;

means interconnected between said brush shafts for tilting said brush shafts with respect to each other so that different portions of the faces of said first and second brushes more heavily contact the surface to be cleaned so that said cleaneris urged along the surface.

2. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said frame is resilient between the mounting of said first brush shaft on aid frame and said second brush shaft on said frame so that said means for tilting said brush shafts with respect to each other resiliently bend said frame.

3. The cleaner of claim 2 wherein said means for relatively tilting said brush shafts comprises a manuallyengageable handle interconnected between said brush shafts, said handle being connected so that, when said handle is manually moved in a direction, said brush shafts are tilted to urge said cleaner to move in that direction.

4. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said means for relatively tilting said brush shafts comprises a manuallyengageable handle interconnected between said brush shafts, said handle being connected so that, when said handle is manually moved in a direction, said brush shafts are tilted to urge said cleaner to move in that direction.

5. The cleaner of claim 4 wherein said cleaner has a longitudinal direction substantially through said brush shafts and substantially parallel to said brush faces and has the crosswise direction substantially parallel to said brush faces and normal to said longitudinal direction, said manually-operable handle being movable in said longitudinal and said crosswise direction.

6. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said handle is connected to a slide so that longitudinal movement of said handle causes substantially longitudinal movement of said slide, and longitudinal movement of said slide causes twisting of said brush axes relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of said cleaner.

7. The cleaner of claim wherein said manuallyoperable handle is connected to a control linkage which has a threaded rod interconnected between said first brush shaft and said second brush shaft so that, as said manually-operable handle is moved in a crosswise direction of said cleaner, said axes of said brush shafts are tilted relatively toward and away from each other.

8. The cleaner of claim 7 wherein said handle is connected to a slide so that longitudinal movement of said handle causes substantially longitudinal movement of said slide, and longitudinal movement of said slide causes twisting of said brush axes relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of said cleaner.

9. The cleaner of claim 8 further including interlock means between said manually-operable handle and said frame so that said handle can only be moved longitudinally or crosswise at one time.

10. The cleaner of claim 5 further including interlock means between said manually-operable handle and said frame so that said handle can only be moved longitudinally or crosswise at one time.

11. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said first and second brushes are configured so that a portion of said first brush carries a portion of said brush face and extends a greater distance from said first shaft than another portion of said first brush, and a portion of said second brush carries a portion of said brush face and extends a greater distance from said second shaft than another portion of said second brush, said portions of greater radius of said first and second brushes totaling a greater distance than the distance between said first and second shafts so that the brush faces on said portions of greater radius pass over the Surface to be cleaned on intersecting paths to eliminate an unbrushed intermediate zone on the surface. 

1. A cleaner comprising: a frame having first and second ends; a first brush shaft rotatably mounted on said frame toward said first end of said frame to rotate on a first axis, a first brush secured to said first brush shaft and having a brush face substantially normal to said axis; a second brush shaft rotatably mounted on said frame toward said second end of said frame to rotate on a second axis, a second brush attached to said second brush shaft and having a brush face substantially normal to said axis of rotation of said second brush shaft; said brush faces forming the only contact between said cleaner and a surface to be cleaned by said cleaner; means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes in opposite directions for minimizing torque between said frame and the surface to be cleaned as said means for rotating said brushes rotates said brushes against the surface being cleaned; means interconnected between said brush shafts for tilting said brush shafts with respect to each other so that different portions of the faces of said first and second brushes more heavily contact the surface to be cleaned so that said cleaner is urged along the surface.
 2. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said frame is resilient between the mounting of said first brush shaft on aid frame and said second brush shaft on said frame so that said means for tilting said brUsh shafts with respect to each other resiliently bend said frame.
 3. The cleaner of claim 2 wherein said means for relatively tilting said brush shafts comprises a manually-engageable handle interconnected between said brush shafts, said handle being connected so that, when said handle is manually moved in a direction, said brush shafts are tilted to urge said cleaner to move in that direction.
 4. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said means for relatively tilting said brush shafts comprises a manually-engageable handle interconnected between said brush shafts, said handle being connected so that, when said handle is manually moved in a direction, said brush shafts are tilted to urge said cleaner to move in that direction.
 5. The cleaner of claim 4 wherein said cleaner has a longitudinal direction substantially through said brush shafts and substantially parallel to said brush faces and has the crosswise direction substantially parallel to said brush faces and normal to said longitudinal direction, said manually-operable handle being movable in said longitudinal and said crosswise direction.
 6. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said handle is connected to a slide so that longitudinal movement of said handle causes substantially longitudinal movement of said slide, and longitudinal movement of said slide causes twisting of said brush axes relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of said cleaner.
 7. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein said manually-operable handle is connected to a control linkage which has a threaded rod interconnected between said first brush shaft and said second brush shaft so that, as said manually-operable handle is moved in a crosswise direction of said cleaner, said axes of said brush shafts are tilted relatively toward and away from each other.
 8. The cleaner of claim 7 wherein said handle is connected to a slide so that longitudinal movement of said handle causes substantially longitudinal movement of said slide, and longitudinal movement of said slide causes twisting of said brush axes relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of said cleaner.
 9. The cleaner of claim 8 further including interlock means between said manually-operable handle and said frame so that said handle can only be moved longitudinally or crosswise at one time.
 10. The cleaner of claim 5 further including interlock means between said manually-operable handle and said frame so that said handle can only be moved longitudinally or crosswise at one time.
 11. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said first and second brushes are configured so that a portion of said first brush carries a portion of said brush face and extends a greater distance from said first shaft than another portion of said first brush, and a portion of said second brush carries a portion of said brush face and extends a greater distance from said second shaft than another portion of said second brush, said portions of greater radius of said first and second brushes totaling a greater distance than the distance between said first and second shafts so that the brush faces on said portions of greater radius pass over the Surface to be cleaned on intersecting paths to eliminate an unbrushed intermediate zone on the surface. 